Zaire
We were all flushed from embarrassment.
I cleared my throat. "Sorry, we—we're your new neighbors."
I struggled to stop stuttering.
"My name's Zaire Panther. This is Kaiden Wolf. And the, uh… teddy bear is Theodore Bear."
Smooth.
She looked either drunk or drowsy, judging by the half-empty Crystal Skull bottle swinging from her fingers. I was betting on being drunk. But it didn't dull her charm—if anything, it made her more dangerous.
She crossed her arms, the movement pressing her already generous chest against the flimsy lace that barely counted as clothing. My brain short-circuited.
"I thought I'd seen my fair share of handsome men, but I've just been proven wrong," she said. "Where have these men been hiding, and how many hearts have they broken?" she asked.
I felt my face further redden, my body unable to decide if my blood should travel up to my brain or further down, my eyes unable to decide whether to look at her beautiful face or... I stifled a groan.
"None, ma'am," I said.
One glance and she'd left a permanent mark on my sanity. And now? She was still in that damn lingerie. Only now it had a silky blue robe. It was even further enticing, making you want to slowly unravel her.
"Kitty," she said suddenly.
"I'm sorry?"
The word snapped me out of my spiral.
The sweet scent of vanilla hit me again. We're starving, my inner voice growled.
"Can I call you Kitty, Wolfy, and Teddy instead?" she asked, smiling, slurring—definitely tipsy.
"Absolutely!" Kaiden grinned.
"Only for you," Theodore rumbled, smiling.
"Y-Yes?" I barely managed, not even sure what I'd agreed to before she yanked me inside by my necktie.
"Wait—" I grabbed the doorframe, the last of my logic clinging for survival. "We just came to ask for food recommendations. We're not strippers!"
She licked her lips slowly, showing a mischievous forked tongue. "Hmm… you look so desperate. It's so sexy."
We groaned in unison.
"Us hungry," she added, explaining like we were toddlers. "Me have food. Let's all eat."
"Can't argue with that," Kaiden said, pushing past me like a man on a mission.
"Shoes off!" she called, wagging a finger at us like a scolding mom.
"Yes, ma'am," we chorused without hesitation.
What were we doing? Three alphas, blindly obeying a lingerie-clad stranger. This was completely illogical.
She turned toward the kitchen island, her robe lifting just enough to showcase a bouncing, heart-shaped tail. Her perfect behind swayed hypnotically. I stared.
What does "illogical" even mean again?
"Logic.exe file not found" is what was in my head.
Kaiden dove into the takeout. Theodore was already grabbing plates.
"You boys always this obedient, or am I just that charming?" she teased.
"Oh, I forgot," she said. Before we could answer, she walked back to me, her strut making her bosoms jiggle at every step. "My name's Seraphine Valak," she outstretched her hand to offer to shake mine, which I took.
"And I think I'm gonna throw up," she added, turning on her heel and rushing off. But she tripped on her heels and falling to the side.
I rushed to catch her.
We all did.
—
Seraphine
50 shades said his name is Zaire. Exotic. You can see a bit of oriental heritage in his features
Yum.
I thought I'd seen my fair share of handsome men, but I'd just been proven wrong.
Where have these men been hiding, and how many hearts have they broken? I thought.
My head spun, my stomach flipped. Vodka and meds were definitely a no-go combo.
"None, ma'am," the dark-haired hunk I now knew as Zaire said, his onyx eyes looking at... no, lusting at me through his glasses. Yum. The succubus in me relished in the attention they were giving me
And it was like my restraints snapped; she was free, enticing them and loving it
I was going to regret this tomorrow, sure. But right now? I could be myself. Flirt. Play. And tomorrow, we'd go back to being strangers.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep the tequila demon down. Smile through the sick, Sera, I reminded myself.
"Can I call you Kitty, Wolfy, and Teddy?" I asked. It was obvious they were shifters based on the names—and the vibes.
They unanimously agreed… I think.
"Okies." I grabbed Zaire's tie—I'd been wanting to do that since I opened the door. "Come in, my cute strippers."
"Wait—" Zaire paused. I stopped, looking back, not letting go of the tie.
He was gripping the doorframe like he was debating jumping off a cliff. "We just came to ask for food recs. We're not strippers!"
"Aw, sweet kitty. But you wanna be bad, don't you? Come on, Kitty Cat, you know you want to play"
My inner succubus mused, having fun enticing them.
"Hmmm… you look so desperate; it's so sexy to me," I said seductively and licked my lips, showing my forked tongue. They all groaned. Gotcha, I felt giddy that I'd caught some prey.
"Me have food," I grinned. "So let's all eat."
"Can't argue with that," the one that looked just as dangerous, only in a more rugged way — I thought his name was Kaiden — said.
Kaiden barreled in. Theodore followed, all quiet and efficient. Zaire… looked like he'd just had his first thought in five minutes. I loved that for me.
"Shoes off," I called. I wanted company, but they better not make a mess of my place.
I watched them—the three towering, wide-eyed meatheads I'd just dragged into my apartment like a drunk siren. They were sexy, flustered, and utterly confused. The way they stared at me like I was some sort of walking fantasy? Delicious.
I should've felt embarrassed—dressed like a lingerie-clad disaster, half-drunk, with a tequila bottle still in my hand.
But nope I didn't care when they looked at me like that.
They looked at me like I was a goddess. A mess of one—but a hot one.
I strutted to the kitchen, hips swaying, boobs bouncing, tail flicking like a smug cat. Zaire blinked like I'd hypnotized him.
Good.
Kaiden was already halfway inside, nosing toward the food like a starving Wolf. Theodore had that stoic smile that told me he was amused and aroused. And Zaire? The poor thing looked like his brain had blue-screened. I liked that. A lot.
"You boys are always this obedient, or am I just that charming?" I teased, walking to the bags of takeout on the kitchen island.
"Oh—almost forgot." I turned and nearly tripped on my damn heels. Graceful. I righted myself, flushed.
"Seraphine Valak," I said, sticking out my hand.
Each of them took it like it was made of gold.
"And I think I'm gonna throw up."
I spun to bolt for the bathroom—heels betrayed me—and I went down.
Yup, this is definitely how I'm going to die, I thought.
Except I didn't hit the floor.
Three sets of arms caught me mid-air.
Honestly?
I could get used to this.
The nausea wasn't done with me though. "Bathroom?" Kaiden asked, frantic.
I pointed to the master bedroom.
Theodore effortlessly lifted me in his arms and princess-carried me to my bedroom, following my direction.
When I saw the toilet seat, I swear I heard an angel choir.
Theodore gently placed me on the floor.
I hit my knees and emptied every poor life choice I'd made in the past hour.
Someone held my hair back. Someone rubbed my back. Gentle touches. Warm, grounding.
My god, they're all such gentlemen, and more. I'd personally visit their parents to thank them for raising them so well.
After I emptied my already empty stomach and was calming down, the toilet flushed. I watched the alcohol and pills disappear from my sight.
"Fuck the pills…" I panicked. "Oh no, I need to take more…" I braced myself for the upcoming attack from lack of vitality, but there was nothing. The building heat and agony I'd felt all these years was gone.
A damp towel that smelled of soap was handed to me, which I thankfully took.
"Thank you," I weakly said, slowly coming to my senses.
"As much as I love how gorgeous you look in this... pajama set," Kaiden said
"I look gorgeous?" I asked, skeptical.
Both of them stared at me like I was insane.
"Nice try," I muttered, chuckling.
"How 'bout we change into more comfortable clothes?" Theodore said breaking the awkward silence
"Good idea," I nodded.
"We'll step out," Kaiden added, as they left me to change.
I sat for a moment, letting everything sink in.
Three gorgeous men. In my apartment. Because I dragged them in. While drunk. In lingerie.
I groaned.
Welp. Too late now. Might as well ride this out.
At least… the constant pain I'd carried for years? It was gone.
I showered quickly and threw on shorts and a white tee. I stared at the mirror.
Makeup?
No. They'd already seen the worst of me. Screw it.
I inhaled deeply and faced the door.
Time to face the music.
—